Radioisotope Authorizations
A Principal Investigator who plans to possess or use radioactive materials
in any form at Princeton University must apply to the Radiation
Safety
Committee to obtain a Radioisotope Authorization. The Authorization specifies
the radioisotopes the PI is permitted to use, the authorized chemical
and physical form for those radioisotopes, the possession limits for
each radioisotope, the authorized location of radioisotope use, and
the authorized
experimental protocol(s). Each Radioisotope Authorization is issued for
a five-year term and must be renewed prior to its expiration. The application
and approval process are described below:
Initial Application (top)
The first time that a Principal Investigator applies for radioisotope
authorization at Princeton University, he or she must submit a copy
of the following forms:
- Radioisotope Authorization Application: (Word
or pdf)
- Radioisotope Authorization Application – Supplement: (Word
or pdf)
- Statement of Training and Experience: (Word
or pdf)
- Animal Protocol Supplement (if relevant): (Word
or pdf)
Although a separate Authorization Number is issued for each radioisotope
the PI intends to use, the PI may use one application form for all the
radioisotopes of interest. The PI is encouraged to contact Sue
Dupre with any questions concerning completing the forms.
The PI should be aware that the entire authorization review and approval
process may take as long as 3-4 weeks and may take longer for non-routine
proposals, although the RSO may grant a 30-day temporary authorization
under certain conditions.
Subsequent Applications (top)
An Authorized User with current authorizations who wants to become
authorized for additional radioisotopes must submit a new authorization
application. However, the amount of paperwork is not as extensive as
the original application. He or she must submit a copy of the following
forms:
- Radioisotope Authorization Application: (Word
or pdf)
- Radioisotope Authorization Application – Supplement (Items
6-11 only): (Word or pdf)
- Animal Protocol Supplement (if relevant): (Word
or pdf)
Authorization Process (top)
1. When a Principal Investigator applies for radioisotope authorization,
he or she must submit a copy of the Radioisotope Authorization forms
described above for Initial and Subsequent Applications. Although a
separate Authorization Number is issued for each radioisotope the PI
intends to use, the PI may use one application form for all the radioisotopes
of interest. The PI is encouraged to contact the RSO with any questions
concerning completing the forms.
2. The PI must sign the forms, and the main Radioisotope Authorization
Application must also be signed by the Departmental Safety Manager.
3. The completed, signed forms are mailed back through campus mail
to EHS.
4. After EHS receives the forms, the RSO will review the application
and will contact the PI to schedule a meeting to review the application
and to review the requirements of the Princeton University radiation
safety program. This meeting may take as long as 2 hours. In addition
to this interview, the PI must complete the Princeton University radiation
safety training program at the earliest possible opportunity, even though
the PI may have attended radiation safety training at other institutions
and may be an experienced radioisotope user.
5. After the authorization review meeting, the RSO will pass the application
on to the Radiation Safety Committee, along with the RSO’s recommendations
regarding approval or disapproval of the application. Once it receives
the application, the Committee has two weeks to review the application
and to act on the application.
6. The PI should be aware that the entire authorization review and
approval process may take as long as 3-4 weeks and may take longer for
non-routine proposals.
7. After the RSO receives notice that the application has been approved,
s/he will send written notification to the PI that the application has
been approved. As part of this notification, the PI is provided with
a copy of a Radioisotope Authorization that specifies the radioisotopes
that may be used, the possession limits that apply to each radioisotope,
the location(s) in which radioisotope use may occur and any conditions
that have been imposed on the PI’s use of radioactive materials.
Radioactive materials may not be ordered until the formal Radioisotope
Authorization has been issued.
8. Authorizations are issued for five-year periods and must be renewed
at the end of the authorization period.
Amending an Authorization (top)
An Authorized User must apply for an amendment to his or her authorizations
if any of the following circumstances:
- To add or delete an authorized location for radioisotope use
- To increase or decrease the authorized possession limit
- To amend the authorized chemical or physical form
- To amend the authorized experimental protocol or to add a new experimental
protocol
- To amend the experimental protocol to allow the in vivo or in
vitro use of radioactivity in animals
Application for Authorization Amendment: (Word
or pdf)
Inactivating an Authorization (top)
An Authorized User who does not plan to use radioactive materials
for a year or more may find it worthwhile to apply to inactivate his
or
her authorizations. For the duration of the inactivation, the Authorized
User is not required to submit routine reports, lab personnel are not
generally required to attend initial or refresher radiation safety
training, and EHS will not visit the lab to perform routine contamination
surveys. EHS will not approve radioisotope purchases for inactivated
authorizations.
Application to Inactivate An Authorization: (Word
or pdf)
Canceling an Authorization (top)
An Authorized User who does not plan to use radioactive materials under
an authorization any longer or who plans to leave Princeton University
must submit an application to cancel his or her authorizations. Before
submitting the application, the Authorized User must either make arrangements
to dispose of all radioactive materials as waste or must make arrangements
to transfer the materials to another Authorized User.
Application to Cancel An Authorization: (Word
or pdf)
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